Master & Commander by Patrick O’Brian Read Free Book Online Page B

must have a medical man—apart from anything else, you have no notion of what a hypochondriac your seaman is: they love to be physicked, and a ship's company without someone to look after them, even the rawest half-grown surgeon's mate, is not a happy ship's company—and then again it is the direct answer to your immediate difficulties. The pay is contemptible for a learned man—five pounds a month—and I am ashamed to mention it; but there is the chance of prize-money, and I believe there are certain perquisites, such as Queen Anne's Gift, and something for every man with the pox. It is stopped out of their pay.'
       'Oh, as for money, I am not greatly concerned with that. If the immortal Linnaeus could traverse five thousand miles of Lapland, living upon twenty-five pounds, surely I can . . . But is the thing in itself really feasible? Surely there must be an official appointment? Uniform? Instruments? Drugs, medical necessities?'
       'Now that you come to ask me these fine points, it is surprising how little I know,' said Jack, smiling. 'But Lord love you, Doctor, we must not let trifles stand in the way. A warrant from the Navy Office you must have, that I am sure of; but I know the admiral will give you an acting order the minute I ask him—delighted to do so. As for uniform, there is nothing particular for surgeons, though a blue coat is usual. Instruments and so on—there you have me. I believe Apothecaries' Hall sends a chest aboard: Florey will know, or any of the surgeons But at all events come aboard directly Come as soon as you like—come tomorrow, say, and we will dine together. Even the acting order will take some little time, so make this voyage as my guest It will not be comfortable—no elbow-room in a brig, you know but it will introduce you to naval life; and if you have a saucy landlord, it will dish him instantly Let me fill your cup. And I am sure you will like it, for it is amazingly philosophical.'
       'Certainly,' said Stephen. 'For a philosopher, a student of human nature, what could be better? The subjects of his inquiry shut up together, unable to escape his gaze, their passions heightened by the dangers of war, the hazards of their calling, their isolation from women and their curious, but uniform, diet. And by the glow of patriotic fervour, no doubt.'—with a bow to Jack—'It is true that for some time past I have taken more interest in the cryptogams than in my fellow-men; but even so, a ship must be a most instructive theatre for an inquiring mind.'
       'Prodigiously instructive, I do assure you, Doctor,' said Jack. 'How happy you make me: to have Dillon as the Sophie's lieutenant and a Dublin physician as her surgeon—by the way, you are countrymen, of course. Perhaps you know Mr Dillon?'
       'There are so many Dillons,' said Stephen, with a chill settling about his heart. 'What is his Christian name?'
       'James,' said Jack, looking at the note.
       'No,' said Stephen deliberately. 'I do not remember to have met any James Dillon.'

    'Mr Marshall,' said Jack, 'pass the word for the carpenter, if you please. I have a guest coming aboard: we must do our best to make him comfortable. He is a physician, a great man in the philosophical line.'
       'An astronomer, sir?' asked the master eagerly.
       'Rather more of a botanist, I take it,' said Jack. 'But I have great hopes that if we make him comfortable he may stay with us as the Sophie's surgeon. Think what a famous thing that would be for the ship's company!'
       'Indeed it would, sir. They were right upset when Mr Jackson went off to the Pallas , and to replace him with a physician would be a great stroke. There's one aboard the flagship and one at Gibraltar, but not another in the whole fleet, not that I know of. They charge a guinea a visit, by land; or so I have heard tell.'
       'Even more, Mr Marshall, even more. Is that water aboard?'
       'All aboard and stowed, sir, except for the last two casks.'